The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do.

The last time I was intimidated was when I was 6 years old in karate class. I was an orange belt and the instructor ordered me to fight a black belt who was a couple years older and a lot bigger. I was scared s—less. I mean, I was terrified and he kicked my ass. But then I realized he didn’t kick my ass as bad as I thought he was going to and that there was nothing really to be afraid of. That was around the time I realized that intimidation didn’t really exist if you’re in the right frame of mind.

The Black Mamba collection of watches is me: It is my alter ego, so to speak. As I mentioned before, it is sharp, cutting edge and sleek which are characteristics I try to apply when I’m out there on the basketball court.

Take it all in. Sit back and watch and listen and hear all the hate that’s being thrown at us and remember every person that’s kicking you when you’re down, because next year it ain’t gonna be this way. Appreciate it now. Let it sit in now, because revenge is sweet and it’s quick.

People just don’t understand how obsessed I am with winning.

One thing you gotta know about me is I have absolutely no filter. I have no problem saying what the hell I think of someone.

My parents are my backbone. Still are. They’re the only group that will support you if you score zero or you score 40.

If you’re afraid to fail, then you’re probably going to fail.

I’m reflective only in the sense that I learn to move forward. I reflect with a purpose.

I’m playing against great players, playing against the best in the world. The competition—that’s what I’ve always wanted.

I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. No matter what the injury—unless it’s completely debilitating—I’m going to be the same player I’ve always been. I’ll figure it out. I’ll make some tweaks, some changes, but I’m still coming.

I’m extremely willful to win, and I respond to challenges. Scoring titles and stuff like that… It sounds, well, I don’t care how it sounds—to me, scoring comes easy. It’s not a challenge to me to win the scoring title, because I know I can.

I’m chasing perfection.

I’ll do whatever it takes to win games, whether it’s sitting on a bench waving a towel, handing a cup of water to a teammate, or hitting the game-winning shot.

I remember feeling the silence. I remember feeling the fear. I’m like, ‘This could be a wrap.’ And that’s what the silence was. It was like, ‘This could really be a wrap for you.’

I love going one-on-one with someone. That’s what I do. I’ve never lost. It’s a whole different game, just to have them right in front of you and be able to do whatever you want.

I have self-doubt. I have insecurity. I have fear of failure. I have nights when I show up at the arena and I’m like, ‘My back hurts, my feet hurt, my knees hurt. I don’t have it. I just want to chill.’ We all have self-doubt. You don’t deny it, but you also don’t capitulate to it. You embrace it.

I had to organize things. So I created the ‘Black Mamba’. So Kobe has to deal with these issues, all the personal challenges. The Black Mamba steps on the court and does what he does. I’m destroying everybody that steps on the court.

I focus on one thing and one thing only—that’s trying to win as many championships as I can.

I don’t want to be the next Michael Jordan, I only want to be Kobe Bryant.

I don’t f**k with bees, man. Other than that, I’m not afraid of nothing.

I can’t relate to lazy people. We don’t speak the same language. I don’t understand you. I don’t want to understand you.

Hi, I’m Kobe Bryant. And I have decided to take my talent to, uh… I have decided to skip college and take my talent to the NBA.

Friends can come and go, but banners hang forever.

Everything negative—pressure, challenges—is all an opportunity for me to rise.

Everyone looks at your watch and it represents who you are, your values and your personal style.

Boos don’t block dunks.

Better learn not to talk to me. You shake the tree, a leopard’s gonna fall out.

Because I don’t want chumps, I don’t want pushovers, and if you’re a chump and a pushover, I will run over you.

As I sit here now, when I take off my shoe and I look down at my scar, I see beauty in it. I see all the hard work, all the sacrifices. I see the journey that it took to get back to this point of being healthy. And I see beauty in that struggle. That’s what makes it beautiful.